Myokymia in the course of Bell's palsy. An electromyographic study.

Facial myokymia has been described in association with many morbid conditions, most frequently multiple sclerosis (MS) and brainstem tumors (BST). Very few reports deal with myokymia in the course of Bell's palsy, despite high frequency of the disease. A series of 88 consecutive patients with Bell's palsy is presented, in which serial EMG controls were performed in the initial phases of facial palsy. Twenty three showed myokymic activity detected by EMG, while clinically evident myokymia could be observed only in 8. EMG features did not reveal any peculiarity as compared with myokymic discharges reported in other pathological situations. Considering the high incidence of myokymic activity reported in the course of Bell's palsy, it is the authors' opinion that an occasional finding of myokymia, both clinically evident or detected by EMG, should not necessarily lead one to suspect serious aetiologies.

[Prevalence and incidence of multiple sclerosis in the province of Parma, 1965-1980. Preliminary data]. / Prevalenza e incidenza della sclerosi multipla nella provincia di Parma nel periodo 1965-80. Dati preliminari.

Recent epidemiological studies in small communities report very high prevalence rates of multiple sclerosis (MS), suggesting that Italy should be included among high risk areas for MS. Such data are not confirmed when populations exceeding 300.000 are considered. The total prevalence rate of probable MS in the province of Parma was 23.07 per 100.000 on the prevalence day Dec. 31, 1980. Up to date, very few studies deal with incidence of MS, due to the fact that in many cases it is difficult to establish the exact outburst of the disease. Yet, incidence will indicate the real risk for the disease for a given period in a more accurate manner. Mean annual incidence of MS in the province of Parma in the period 1965-80 was 1.14 per 100.000. A previous survey in the period 1950-59 reported, for the same area, an incidence rate of 1.01 per 100.000, versus a prevalence rate of 12.33 per 100.000. In our opinion, when comparison of data between two different areas, in different periods, is to be made, incidence rates for MS should be preferred to prevalence studies.

The sunflower syndrome.

Some photosensitive epileptic patients show absence attacks preceded by a "seeking of a source of light" and stereotyped movements of various kinds. The common explanation is an attempt to self-induce seizures. The case reported is of a young girl who had not shown evidence of photosensitivity for many years. Alternative interpretations of this phenomenon are discussed.